• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Jobs
  • Career
    • Cyber Security Training
    • Work from Home
    • Cyber Security Analyst
    • Remote Work – Six Ways to Keep Your Data Safe When Working Remotely
  • Field Guide
  • Newsletter Signup
  • Deals
  • News
AskCyberSecurity.com

AskCyberSecurity.com

Cyber Security News & Information

  • Home
  • Data Privacy
    • Gamers
    • Government Cyber Security
      • Legislation
      • Standards
        • What are the risks of computer security?
        • Medical Cyber Security
    • Social Media
  • Security
    • Data Breaches
    • Scams
    • Malware
  • Software
    • Apps
    • Web Browsers
  • Glossary
    • Cyber Security Acronyms
  • About Ask Cyber Security
    • Authors
    • Contact Us
  • VPN
    • How Do I Know If My VPN is Working?
    • Best Free VPN iPhone
    • Why Use a VPN?
    • NordVPN vs IPVanish
    • Private Internet Access Download
    • Best VPN for Streaming
      • TikTok VPN
    • VPN Porn
    • Computer Security Software – What You Really Need
  • Tutorials
AskCyber Home » News » News » TikTok Tracked MAC Addresses

TikTok Tracked MAC Addresses

2020-08-12 by Michelle Dvorak

TikTok MAC Address

Bug Exploited to Track Android Phone Users Until Last Year

TikTok was reportedly tracking Android phones by exploiting a security flaw. The video-sharing app TikTok tracked users by the device’s MAC address, with no option for users to opt-out, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal.

TikTok exploited an Android security flaw to skirt around Google security policies that prevent an app from tracking a devices’ MAC address.

TikTok is a video sharing mobile app available for Android and iPhone users. The app is owned by Beijing based company ByteDance. On TikTok users upload short form videos up to 60 seconds long. Popular content topics include dance videos, cooking, comedy, DIY tutorials, and even some news.

TikTok has been under scrutiny for allegations of sharing user data with the Chinese government . Although there is no evidence to substantiate these claims, France’s Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL) announced yesterday that the agency is investigating TikTok over its data sharing practices.

TikTok Banned in Some Countries

TikTok has been banned in India for all citizens and Army personnel. This mandate came on the heels of a border skirmish between China and India in the Himalayan mountains.

US President Trump signed an executive order last week that will sanction ByteDance and ban TikTok for all US citizens starting on 20 September. No US based business will be allowed to conduct business with ByteDance after that date. However, if a controlling stake in ByteDance is sold to a US company, Trump says he will rescind the executive order.

TikTok was banned for use on all US government owned phones last December.

What is a MAC Address?

MAC stands for Media Access Control. It is a unique identifier that all electronic devices like smartphones, laptops, smart TVs, routers, etc. have. That identifier permanently identifies an electronic device and is generally never changed. It can be exploited to track a device and by default the person who has it, across all of their internet activity and physical location.

Google block apps from reading a device’s MAC address. The app used encryption to work around this block.

How to find MAC address on Android

Locate the MAC Address of an Android phone.

  1. Open your phone and tap the Settings button
  2. Scroll down and select About Phone
  3. Scroll down and tap Status
  4. Your device’s MAC Address is shown under the Wi-Fi MAC address section

TikTok stopped using this exploit last year according to the WSJ report. “The current version of TikTok does not collect MAC addresses” said ByteDance in a statement.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: TikTok

About Michelle Dvorak

Michelle writes about cyber security, data privacy focusing on social media privacy as well as how to protect your IoT devices. She has worked in internet technology for over 20 years and owns METRONY, LLC. Michelle earned a B.S. in Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Michelle published a guide to Cyber Security for Business Travelers


LinkedInTwitterFacebook

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to Our Free Newsletter

We Don't Share or Sell Your Info

Web Browsers

Where Are My Saved Passwords in Chrome?

Google Removes 70 Malicious Browser Add-ons from Chrome Web Store

Firefox 75 Reports Your Browser Settings to Mozilla

Categories

Cyber Security Field Guide

Computer Security While TravelingGet Our Cyber Security Field Guide - Available on Amazon!

Recent Posts

Security Marketing Manager – Remote

Sr. Associate, Cybersecurity Architect – Pfizer

Strategic Customer Success Manager – Cybersecurity – Opportunity for Working Remotely

Top 20 Passwords Leaked on Dark Web

ISU Cybersecurity Leader Job Opening

Cyber Security News

Top 20 Passwords Leaked on Dark Web

… [Read More...] about Top 20 Passwords Leaked on Dark Web

Apple Warns of Actively Exploited Zero-Day Flaw

… [Read More...] about Apple Warns of Actively Exploited Zero-Day Flaw

IRS Stops Facial Recognition System for Online Access

… [Read More...] about IRS Stops Facial Recognition System for Online Access

National Cybersecurity Alliance Announces Data Privacy Week

… [Read More...] about National Cybersecurity Alliance Announces Data Privacy Week

More Cyber Security News

Tags

amazon Android Apple bitcoin China chrome CISA credit card DarkSide DHS DOJ Equifax Europe Facebook facial recognition FBI Firefox FTC games GDPR Google Government hacker identity theft India iPhone Iran IRS LinkedIn Microsoft North Korea PayPal phishing phishing email ransomware REvil Russia smartphone T-Mobile TikTok tutorial VPN WhatsApp WiFi Windows

Government

CBP Looks to Access Airline Passenger Data

FTC Releases Cyber Threat Video Playlist

Malware Found on US Government Funded Phones

UK NCA Reaches Out to Youth to Deter Cybercrimes

More Posts from this Category

Footer

Menu

  • Home
  • About
  • Authors
  • Newsletter Signup
  • PRIVACY POLICY

Search

Why Use a VPN?

NordVPN vs IPVanish VPN Review

NAVIGATION

  • Data Breaches
  • Data Privacy
  • Gamers
  • Scams
  • Malware

MEMBER NJCCIC

New Jersey Cybersecurity & Communications Integration Cell

STAY CONNECTED

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Twitter
  • RSS

Copyright © 2023 · AskCyberSecurity.com · METRONY, LLC

Go to mobile version